Michael Mann & Peter Hotez on the "organized," "deliberate" political attacks on science

Threats to Science and Public Health - Scientists like Michael Man and Peter Hotz face organized attacks from climate deniers and vaccine skeptics, sometimes sanctioned by government officials [1][2] - These attacks aim to undermine public faith in science, which is crucial for addressing climate change, pandemics, and other crises [2][14] - Misinformation and disinformation, amplified by social media and AI, pose a significant threat to tackling global challenges [22] The Anti-Science Movement - Five forces drive the anti-science movement: propagandists, bureaucrats, and others who weaponize platforms to spread misinformation [14] - Organized misinformation led to an estimated 200,000 American deaths due to vaccine refusal [10][11] - Financial incentives, such as selling low-cost generics at inflated prices, motivate some to discredit science and scientists [11][12] Defending Science - Science relies on peer review, scientific meetings, and other established processes to refine and validate research [17][18][23] - Engaging with bad faith actors who reject scientific evidence is unproductive [18] - Media's "performative neutrality" or "false objectivity" can give undue weight to unscientific viewpoints [20][21]